The expression “home is where the heart is” rings true for loyal GMA viewers around the world as GMA Pinoy TV celebrated its 10th anniversary last year.
Dubbed #Sampuso, a play on the Filipino words for 10 (sampu) and heart (puso), the year-long anniversary celebration brought the Network’s brightest stars to various countries across North America, the Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
With a string of successful events, the Network, through its overseas business unit GMA International, was instrumental in bringing Filipinos abroad closer to home.
For GMA FVP for International Operations Joseph Francia, such events are a valuable opportunity to reach out to audiences overseas. “With a vast subscriber base outside the Philippines, we definitely seek to give our viewers an experience that transcends their television screens.”
As with previous years, GMA, in partnership with Filipino organizations overseas, was at the heart of various community events in 2015 that celebrated the Filipino culture and heritage.
From Filipino Festivals in the US, to the Philippine Independence Day celebrations in key cities abroad, to Filipino community events in Vancouver and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, GMA Pinoy TV consistently showed its unwavering support.
Pambansang Bae Alden Richards was among those who joined our kababayan abroad, celebrating with the Filipino community in the US as he attended the Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival 2015 held in Seattle, Washington and the Philippine Independence Day celebration in Carson City, California.
Apart from the US, thousands trooped to Toronto, Canada to celebrate Filipino pride with Heart Evangelista, and in Vancouver with Solenn Heussaff.
Over in the United Arab Emirates, Bubble Gang mainstay Betong Sumaya teamed up with Rochelle Pangilinan to take part in an amazing showcase of Filipino talent in Dubai, while Lovi Poe flew to the Kuwait to perform a touching tribute to hardworking overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the country.
October saw all four hosts of I-Witness — Howie Severino, Kara David, Jay Taruc and Sandra Aguinaldo — coming together in Dubai for the I-Witness Docufest sa Dubai where they met with second-generation Filipinos and their families and donated a library of documentaries to the Philippine schools and the Consular Library.
A few months after, Dennis Trillo had his turn and was enthusiastically greeted by the crowd at the Bayanihan Festival 2015 in Dubai. Likewise, our OFWs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomed Mikael Daez and Betong in the noteworthy celebration of the Philippine Fiesta sa Dammam, which gave Filipinos in the Eastern Province a rare opportunity to gather as a community.
As part of the anniversary celebration, GMA Pinoy TV also kicked off its 2015 Kapusong Pinoy concert series with successful back-to-back events held in Vancouver and Anaheim in May.
Headlined by Ai-Ai delas Alas with Christian Bautista, Jonalyn Viray, Betong and Alden, the concerts drew thousands of spectators from all over North America.
Ai-Ai, then fresh from her momentous comeback to the Network, soon became a much-anticipated regular fixture in GMA International shows, as she went on to topbill the concert series’ equally-successful New York and Japan leg as well.
The Big Apple was given a dose of the Sampuso spirit as Ai-Ai was joined by Dingdong Dantes, Christian, Julie Anne San Jose, Betong and Rita Daniela in New York last September.
Keeping audiences entertained across continents, the Kapusong Pinoy concert series drew to a close as Ai-Ai and Alden, whom she fondly calls “baby boy,” flew to Japan in October where they were joined by Aicelle Santos.
As it continues to support Filipino communities in their events and gatherings, GMA International welcomed 2016 with an exciting line-up of events, beginning with its participation in Alden’s concerts in Dubai and Qatar. This will continue in February as Solenn embarks on a European tour that will take her to the United Kingdom, France, Ireland and Italy in celebration of the Kapuso Month.
Undoubtedly, GMA International is grateful to each and every Filipino across the globe for continuing to welcome them into their homes and their hearts.